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The Business Class’s Double-Edged Hypocrisy is Killing the Economy And The Nation’s Democratic Soul

BY Steve Biko Wafula · October 29, 2024 03:10 pm

KEY POINTS

One needs only to look at history to understand the importance of solidarity between businesses and civil society. In other countries, when industries aligned with advocates for democracy and justice, the political landscape shifted. There are countless examples where businesses took a stand and forced reform. And these examples show that no matter how powerful, the political class must answer to a united front. 

KEY TAKEAWAYS

Supporting voices that speak out is not a radical idea; it is the backbone of democracy. Kenya’s economy has tremendous potential, but that potential will remain unrealized if the business class continues to sit on its hands. Every Kenyan shilling that funds a campaign to stifle voices calling for accountability is a nail in the coffin of economic growth.

It is a painful irony that the business class, who hold sway over the nation’s economy, are among the first to cry foul whenever a new, misguided policy emerges from the political sphere. They lament the government’s incompetence, lambasting policies that lead the economy astray, and yet, when given the chance to align with those who challenge power, they retreat. This self-preservation tactic is neither clever nor productive—it is self-destructive. A business community that turns its back on the advocates for good governance is, in essence, turning its back on its own future. Just as one cannot eat soup with a fork, no industry can thrive in a country where corruption and incompetence run unchecked.

This hypocrisy is one of the core reasons the political class holds the economy hostage. Business leaders dismiss those who demand accountability as “troublemakers” or “idealists,” distancing themselves to avoid political entanglement, yet complain bitterly about political meddling when it suits them. Imagine if they channeled half of their complaints into supporting those advocating for change. The result would be a political environment that takes economic development seriously, a nation where the rule of law protects markets instead of stifling them. But alas, the business community’s short-sightedness keeps democracy in chains, sacrificing long-term economic stability for a temporary sense of safety.

In truth, the business class fails to grasp the inherent power of collective voice. While they huddle in boardrooms bemoaning tax hikes and poor policies, they miss the chance to reshape policy landscapes by supporting voices that call for accountability. A proverb goes, “If you close your eyes to facts, you will learn through accidents.” When political incompetence sinks the economy and bleeds industries dry, it is the businesses who suffer first. Yet, instead of aligning with the voices of reason and reform, they take the safer route, accommodating the very forces they privately despise. Their silence is a co-conspirator in economic recession.

The hypocrisy becomes even starker when they deny opportunities to suppliers, business partners, and contractors brave enough to confront the government. Rather than applauding this courage, they penalize it. Such cowardice only emboldens the political class. After all, if the economic engines of the country are afraid to speak out, why would the political class feel any pressure to change? Businesses have forgotten that “a single stick may smoke, but it will not burn,” and their divided approach allows the political class to play them against each other, silencing potential dissent.

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If Kenyan business leaders truly understood their own interest, they would stand in solidarity with advocates of democracy and transparency. Without a democratic foundation, there is no real protection for private industry. By stifling these voices, they are digging their own graves. They fail to realize that a government accountable to its people, a government that enacts policies with foresight, would make their businesses flourish. Imagine a Kenya where a thriving economy and a government worthy of trust are not mutually exclusive. The business community holds that possibility in its hands but has tragically opted for blind allegiance over courage.

One needs only to look at history to understand the importance of solidarity between businesses and civil society. In other countries, when industries aligned with advocates for democracy and justice, the political landscape shifted. There are countless examples where businesses took a stand and forced reform. And these examples show that no matter how powerful, the political class must answer to a united front. Here, however, our business elites act like traders in a flooded market, each scrambling to save their own goods, even if it means losing the marketplace itself. They ignore the sage wisdom that “when elephants fight, it is the grass that suffers”—except this time, the business class is the grass, and their silence and cowardice are giving rise to more “elephants” of political impunity.

What’s most galling is that the cost of their hypocrisy is not merely economic. It corrodes the fabric of society, leaving younger generations to inherit a nation where corruption, inefficiency, and injustice are the norm. It poisons the nation’s ability to grow democratic values and institutions. Instead of inspiring future entrepreneurs to innovate and demand excellence, they set an example that silence and conformity are better than boldness and change. This is a disservice to all. “He who does not seize opportunity, will eventually lose his way,” and in Kenya, the business community is dangerously close to losing the way to progress.

Read Also: The Price of Dirty Money: How Kenya’s Real Estate Sector Is Fueled by Illicit Cash Flows

Supporting voices that speak out is not a radical idea; it is the backbone of democracy. Kenya’s economy has tremendous potential, but that potential will remain unrealized if the business class continues to sit on its hands. Every Kenyan shilling that funds a campaign to stifle voices calling for accountability is a nail in the coffin of economic growth. The business community must choose between an economy shackled by political tyranny or a thriving market driven by a government that respects enterprise. The choice should be clear, yet they fumble it each time, to the detriment of everyone.

If Kenyan businesses banded together with reform advocates, we would see the creation of policies that spur growth rather than stifle it. We would see the youth emboldened to innovate, inspired by a community that rewards courage, not cowardice. Our democratic space would expand, with accountability as its foundation, and the country would benefit as a whole. Instead, we find ourselves in a nation where businesses unwittingly endorse corruption by their silence, where companies are afraid to stand up for the very reforms that would secure their future.

It is time for the business class to break free from this hypocrisy, to stop playing the double game of denouncing poor governance in private while tolerating it in public. They must realize that if they stand with those who speak truth to power, they stand for the growth of democracy and the prosperity of Kenya. After all, “a tree cannot make a forest,” and their isolated efforts will never rival the collective power of a united front. Let the business community remember this: if they wish to thrive, they must align with those who demand excellence, for they too have a stake in Kenya’s future, and they cannot afford to let it slip into the hands of incompetence.

Read Also: How To Make Money In Kenya: A Crash Course On The Path to Political Prosperity

Steve Biko is the CEO OF Soko Directory and the founder of Hidalgo Group of Companies. Steve is currently developing his career in law, finance, entrepreneurship and digital consultancy; and has been implementing consultancy assignments for client organizations comprising of trainings besides capacity building in entrepreneurial matters. He can be reached on: +254 20 510 1124 or Email: info@sokodirectory.com

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